Deadly shooting at Pawtucket ice rink during high school hockey game

Three people, including the suspected shooter, were killed and three others were critically injured Monday after gunfire broke out during a high school hockey game at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket. Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves said the shooting occurred at about 2: 30 p. m. ET and that officers reached the scene in under two minutes.

Timeline and police response

The shooting unfolded during a game between two co-op high school teams. Law enforcement identified the suspect as Robert Dorgan, who also uses the name Roberta Esposito. Investigators say the suspected shooter was a parent of a North Providence senior who was participating in the game.

Police confirmed three people were dead, including the suspected shooter, and three others were transported to hospitals in critical condition. Chief Goncalves said the suspect’s death appears to be the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, but that investigators will conduct a full investigation to determine the circumstances. Officers retrieved firearms from the scene and have been interviewing witnesses; roughly 100 people had been interviewed by Monday night.

Scenes of chaos and a community in shock

The game was being livestreamed, and video captured by viewers is part of the ongoing investigation. Multiple gunshots are audible in those recordings. Players were seen fleeing the stands and skating across the ice to seek safety; none of the players was injured. One player, identified as Olin Lawrence of Coventry, said he initially mistook the sounds for balloons before realizing they were gunshots. He described teammates running to the locker room and holding the door closed to shelter in place.

Chief Goncalves highlighted the actions of a good Samaritan who intervened and attempted to subdue the suspect, saying that intervention helped bring a swift end to the violence. Authorities have not released the names or ages of the victims, noting the need to notify next of kin before making that information public.

Investigation and next steps

Authorities are treating the shooting as a targeted incident that appears to have stemmed from a family dispute. Investigators continue to collect statements, review video evidence and process the scene. Officials stressed that the inquiry remains active and that further details will be released as they are confirmed and families are notified.

In the wake of the attack, local officials and school leaders are expected to coordinate crisis resources for students, families and community members affected by the violence. Follow-up actions are likely to include an autopsy for the deceased, forensic analysis of recovered firearms, and interviews with witnesses who were inside the arena or watching the livestream when the shooting occurred.

The shooting has left the Pawtucket community searching for answers and demanding clarity about how a high school sporting event ended in multiple fatalities. Police urged anyone with additional footage or information to come forward to assist investigators as they work to establish a full timeline and motive for the attack.